My Wicked Enemy by Carolyn Jewel

My Wicked Enemy
Carolyn Jewel
Forever
July 29, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-446-17823-5

From the back cover:
A desire to be controlled…
Carson Philips is a witch on the run. For years, the notorious mage, Alvaro Magellan, has held her as his psychological prisoner. But once Carson gets a glimpse of the true extent of his evil, she flees Magellan's mansion--stealing a stone talisman of unimaginable power on the way. Her only hope for survival is a demon who ignites a voracious hunger in her she can't deny, a longing she can't resist...
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A hunger that can’t be sated…
Nikodemus is a warlord with a mission: Kill Magellan and his green-eyed witch at any cost. But when he meets the desperate Carson, the pull of her magic takes his breathe away. He's not sure he can trust this tantalizing woman--she is his enemy--and less sure he can keep his hands off her. But Magellan will stop at nothing to reclaim what belongs to him. Can Nikodemus stop him before his desire for Carson destroys them both?
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My thoughts:
Raised by the powerful mage Alvaro Magellan, Carson Philips recently realized what a truly bad man he is when she witnesses a murder. As she runs from the mansion she grabs a valuable artifact, and if Magellan isn’t angry enough over her espcape, he’s fuming when he realizes she’s stolen the talisman. Battling headaches that she’s certain will kill her, and fearing for her life, she’s run to San Francisco and right into the arms of someone who sees her as the enemy.

Nikodemus thought it was his lucky day when he spots Magellan’s witch, Carson, but taking the opportunity to rid his kind of the threat she poses has just gotten complicated. He’s a Warlord, born to be a leader among his kind. Saving his people from a life as mageheld fiends that are controlled by mages and witches is a priority in his life. With Carson on their side, Nikodemus may have found the key to freedom for his kin. Now he just hopes she’ll choose to stick around.

Carolyn Jewel takes readers on a dangerous journey with Carson, an untrained witch who finds strength through Nikodemus. Together they can stop the mage who threatens their existence and fills Carson with fear. My Wicked Enemy unfolds at a steady pace and offers up a host of characters that keep the deadly action flowing. The storyline is fresh, the characters are entertaining, and the romance is delightfully steamy.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

Undead and Unworthy by MaryJanice Davidson

Undead and Unworthy
Queen Betsy, Book 7
MaryJanice Davidson
Berkley Sensation
June 24, 2008
ISBN# 978-0-425-22162-4

From the inside cover flap:
Betsy Taylor thought entering the world of the undead was a big adjustment. Being a new bride isn’t much easier. The blush has only been on for two months, and Betsy has a lot to do: set up the new house, finish writing thank-you notes, and raise BabyJon, her half brother and legal ward. Just another happy American family adjusting to marital bliss.
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Betsy's husband, Sinclair, has been perusing The Book of the Dead, and Betsy's visited by a ghost who's even more insufferable, stubborn, and annoying in death than she was in life. She not only blames Betsy for her condition but insists that she fix it. It’s all just a prelude to the fun and games awaiting Betsy and Sinclair when a pack of formerly feral vampires, hungry for blood and power, pays a visit to the happy couple.
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My thoughts:
Betsy Taylor died and woke up as the queen of vampires with a future king ready to tie the knot. Now she can’t quite catch a break on having an easy or quiet life. As the queen, her responsibilities are endless, but her personal life brings just as many unexpected obstacles. Balancing it all and raising her baby half brother is nearly more than she can handle, so it’s a good thing she has so many others around her to help.

While Betsy’s powers continue to grow and surprise her, a new ghost demands her attention and offers no real clue to what she wants beyond making her life miserable. Then there’s Detective Nick Berry, the man who hates her for who she is and what she’s done to him the past. Now he’s insisting she help him solve a case.

Eric Sinclair remains faithfully by Betsy’s side when he isn’t sneaking off to read The Book of the Dead. It seems that the Queen and her King are busy keeping a few secrets, and one day those secrets might come back to bite them.

With life at the mansion being as crazy as ever, they’ve forgotten about the Fiends they have tucked away in Alice’s care. It’s too bad that the Fiends haven’t forgotten them, or that Betsy’s at the top of their list.

This is the seventh book in the Queen Betsy series and is a fast-paced and humorous as the previous installments. Ms. Davidson has her own brand of wit and shocking surprises that makes her vampire series one of a kind. From characters you grow to love or loathe, to the non-stop paranormal action that’s completely believable within this urban fantasy world, Undead and Unworthy is one that fans don’t dare miss.

Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews